Theefabriek Kertamanah 1934

This is an intriguing set of photographs, ‘Theefabriek Kertamanah’, made by an anonymous photographer, with an unknown date. It’s more like a set of studies than a ‘finished’ artwork. I love the way that the three black and white photographs are arranged on the brownish paper, it creates a sense of repetition. What are these photographs about? The arrangement of the tea is almost sculptural. The repeated pattern of neatly organized packets of tea is quite beautiful. There is something so simple, yet so visually interesting about the orderly stacks. It’s a bit like the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher who photographed industrial structures like water towers. I’m drawn to the precision in how these objects are placed. It brings to mind a kind of minimalist sensibility. Like Agnes Martin’s grids, which are never exactly perfect, the slight variations and imperfections create a sense of the human and imperfect touch. It is a reminder of the ongoing conversation between art and the everyday, challenging our perceptions and inviting us to see beauty in unexpected places.